Towel dispensing means



Nov. 25, 1958 1 1.. LESAVOY TOWEL DISPENSING MEANS Filed Feb. 8. 1957 INVENTOR. AWRENCE LESAVa) BY FIGS.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent TOWEL DISPENSING MEANS I Lawrence Lesavoy, New York, N. Y.

Application February 8, 1957, Serial No. 639,143

9 Claims. (Cl. 312-38) My invention relates to new and improved means forcontrolling the feed of a flexible web, when said web is pulled. trolling the feed of a pulled web of paper or cloth, in order to provide successive towel lengths.

If the web is made of paper, successive towel lengths are torn from the web. If the web is made of cloth, the used part of the cloth web is collected on a take-up roll which is provided in the cabinet in which the mechanism is mounted.

The invention is initially explained with reference to the use of a paper web. It has been well-known for many years to provide mechanism for dispensing or controlling the feed of a paper web from a cabinet, in order to provide successive towel lengths. In such prior mechanism, the paper web is wound in spiral form on a magazine roll which is turnable in a cabinet. The free end of said paper web normally projects from said cabinet through a suitable distance, as about 4.5 inches, to provide a hand-hold. The user pulls upon said projecting hand-hold end, and thus frictionally turns a measuring drum in the cabinet, while pulling the web out of the cabinet. After said drum has been turned through a selected distance, a length of the paper web, such as nine inches, projects from the cabinet. When the drum has been thus turned through said selected angle, the further turning move; ment of the drum and the further feeding of the pulled paper web are temporarily stopped. The user tears oil the projecting towel length. At the end of a selected period, the mechanism automatically turns said drum and thus feeds the paper web automatically, in order to extend or project the next hand-hold portion of the paper web.

In the commercial embodiment of such prior mechanism which has been used for many years, the control has depended upon the use of suction cups. Such prior mechanism has frequently become inoperative, and it has been necessary to take the entire cabinet from the place of use, for repair or replacement of parts.

According to my invention, I provide control in mechanism which consists wholly of rigid parts, except for one or more springs.

Thus, I provide a rigid lock for temporarily locking the drum after it has been turned through a selected angle by the pull on the web. As one example, this lock is a rigid, pivoted hook. This hook is normally held in the release or non-latching position, and it is biased by gravity on a spring to turn to the locking or latching position.

I provide automatic means which are operated by the rotation of said drum or other pull-member, for controlling the position of said hook.

When the drum is turned through a selected angle from its initial or normal position, the hook is automatically released, so that it turns into locking position, in which the latching end of said hook is located to engage a catch of any kind which is fixed to the drum. When the catch engages said latching end, further rotation of the drum is stopped.

In particular, the invention relates to con- 2,861,856 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 ice Mechanism of any kind or type, conveniently designated as delay mechanism, is provided for automatically returning said hook to its release position, at the end of a selected locking or latching period.

If the web is made of paper, the released drum is automatically turned so as to feed the next hand-hold portion of the paper web from the cabinet. If the web is made of cloth, this automatic turning is omitted and the drum is merely released.

vIn the preferred embodiment, the mechanism consists of three principal members, namely, a measuring drum which has a catch connected thereto, a locking member, and a control member which normally holds the hook in release position, automatically releases said hook after the drum has been turned through a selected angle while the drum is still unlocked, and then returns said hook to its release position at the end of a selected locking period.

All the control parts can be mounted on a single plate or mount which is detachably fixed to the wall of the cabinet. Due to the use of rigid mechanical parts, the mechanism is simple, cheap to manufacture and assemble, and can be used for a long period. If repair or replacement is needed, the entire mechanism can be removed as a unit or assembly and quickly replaced by another unit or assembly.

Other features and objects and advantages of the invention are disclosed in a preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the following description and drawings, which illustrate an embodiment for use in connection with a paper web. The invention is not limited to the mechanical details illustrated herein.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, which shows the parts of the mechanism in relative initial or normal positions, in which an end-part of the paper web depends from the cabinet to provide a hand-hold, and said end-part is free from pull.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, showing said parts in relative intermediate positions, after the pull on said endpart has started and prior to the completion of the pull, and before the drum is temporarily locked.

Fig. 3 is similar to Figs. 1 and 2, showing said parts in relative final positions, at the completion of the respective pull on the paper web. temporarily locked, so that the web is held against the pulling force.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The cabinet C is shown diagrammatically. It may be of any size, shape or type. It is provided with the usual cover, not shown, which is fixed detachably to said cabinet C. When this cover is in position, it encloses the mechanism.

The usual spirally-wound paper web W is pulled from 1 the usual rotatable magazine roll. The paper web W is led between the usual rotatable measuring drum 2, and the usual rotatable backing-roll or pressure-roll 47, which is pressed towards drum 2 in the usual manner. When the paper web W is pulled, it frictionally turns the measuring drum 2 and the backing-roll or pressure roll 47.

r The cabinet C has a bottom wall 3, which has a transverse slot, whose parallel transverse edges are defined in Fig. 1 by the points 6 and 5.

The paper web W, in the absence of a pull, normally depends below the bottom wall 3, so that the normal or initial position of the transverse bottom end of web W is defined by the level of line 4. As one example, the vertical distance between bottom wall 3 and line 4 may be about 4.5 inches, enough to provide a convenient hand hold.

The bottom of the front wall 7 of the cabinet has, as best shown in Fig. 3, a cutting or tearing edge 8, whos position is defined in Fig. 1 by the point 5. y

In this figure, the drum is When the paper web W is pulled downwardly through a selected and predetermined distance until its bottom transverse edge is below the normal level of line 4 in order to provide the selected towel length of about nine inches, said web W can be cut or torn'at edge 8. At the end of a cutting step, and prior to the subsequent short automatic feed of Web W to provide the next handhold, the level of the bottom transverse edge of web W is indicated by point 9. Said cut or torn edge of web W will drop by gravity from edge 8 to point 9, along the arc 9. The vertical distance of point 9 below bottom wall 3 is a fraction of an inch.

The rotatable measuring drum 2 has an axial recess in which a pivot-pin or stud-shaft 11 is located. Said drum 2 also has a radial tapped bore 10. A clamping screw 12 detachably fixes drum 2 to its pivot-pin 11. The drum 2 can be fixed to pivot-pin 11 in any manner.

An optional perforated bearing and spacing washer 17 is located between pivot-pin 11 and a vertical sidewall 14 of cabinet C. Said side-wall 14 is detachably fixed to the cabinet in any manner.

The drum 2 and its pivot-pin 11 are freely turnable relative to washer 17 and also relative to a metal mounting plate 15, which is detachably fixed by screws 16 to said vertical side-wall 14.

The pivot-pin 14 fits closely and turnably in alined bores of metal mounting plate 15, side-wall 14, and washer 17. Said washer 17 may be detachably fixed to side-wall 14.

Said pivot-pin 11 has a reduced extension 18. The cross-sectionof extension 18 is non-circular, such as a square or rectangular cross-section.

This reduced extension 18 fits in the non-circular bore of an optional ratchet wheel 19, so that ratchet wheel 19 turns in unison with drum 2. Said ratchet wheel 19 has ratchet teeth 20.

Said reduced'extension 18 also extends through a corresponding non-circular bore of a radial arm 21, which turns in unison with drum 2. One end of said radial arm 21 has a hook 23.

One end of a tension spring 24 is connected to hook 23. The other end of tension spring 24 is detachably fixed to the mounting plate by a screw 25.

A clamping screw 22 detachably fixes arm 21 to reduced extension 18, which has a tapped recess for thls purpose. The perforated washer 28 is clamped intermediate arm 21 and the head of clamping screw 22.

The measuring drum 2 is one of the principal members of the mechanism. It may be replacedby any member which is operated when the web is pulled.

A catch 26 is fixed to drum 2. In this embodiment, the catch 26 is a cam, but the invention is not limited to a cam-shaped catch. The catch 26 may be any projection or extension of drum 2.

Said cam 26 is turned in unison with drum 2. Said cam 26 has an inner cylindrical face which fits on the cylindrical periphery of the hub of ratchet Wheel 19. As one example, the cam 26 may have a press fit on the hub of ratchet wheel 19. The cam. 26 may be angularly adjustable relative to ratchet wheel 19 and drum 2, and cam 26 may be fixed in its angularly adjusted position by any conventional means. This cam 26 has a toe. In this embodiment, one of the functions of this toe is to serve as a catch, in order to temporarily stop the clockwise forward or feeding movement of drum 2.

In Fig. 4, the reference numeral 26a indicates the top of cam 26, and the reference numeral 26b indicates the bottom of cam 26. p

A- control hook or latching device 29 is pivoted to the mounting plate 15, by means of a-pivot pin 30. This hook 29 is a principal member. I This control hook or latching device 29 has end-hooks 31 and 32. A stud 29a, which is fixed to plate 15, prevents hook 29 from turning counterclockwise from its normal or initial position of Fig. 1.

A control member 31a is provided as a third principal member. In this embodiment, but without limitation thereto, the control member 31a is a gear-segment. This gear-segment or control member 3101 is pivoted by pivot pin 32a to plate 15. This gear-segment 31a has gear teeth 34. In this embodiment, but without limitation thereto, said gear-teeth 34 mesh with the first small gear 38 of a train of gears, which are later described.

One end of a tension spring 33 is detachably connected to the toe of the control member or gear-segment 31a. The other end of tension spring 33 is detachably connected by screw 35 to plate 15. In Fig. 1, spring 33 biases gear-segment 31a to turn clockwise. Spring 33 may be replaced 'by the usual torsion spring.

When the latching device hook 29 is in its normal or initial position of Fig. I, the shoulder 36 of gear-segment 31a abuts the hook-end 31 of hook 29, so that gear-segment 31a, under the force of its biasing spring 33, biases hook 29 to turn counterclockwise out of normal position, but such counterclockwise turning movement of hook 29 out of its initial or normal position of Fig. 1 is prevented by the stop-stud or stop-pin 29a, which is detachably fixed to plate 15. p

In Fig. 1, the gear-segment 31a is biased byspring 33 to turn clockwise, but such clockwise turning movement of gear-segment 31a is prevented by the end 31 of control hook 29.

The rotation of drum 2 through an angle of 360 degrees, in a respective cycle, can be divided into four stages or periods.

First period At the beginning of the first period, the parts are in their normal or initial positions of Fig. 1.

The free end of web W is at the level of line 4, to provide a short projecting length of web W to serve as a hand-hold.

During this first period, the drum 2 is turned in a stroke or movement of selected angle or length, by the pull on web W.

At the beginning of this first period, the spring 24 is optionally under tension, and it is aline'd' with the radial arm 21, so that spring 24 does not exert any torque on drum 2.

At the beginning of this first period, the shoulder 36 of the control member 31a abuts the inner end 31 of hook 29. At this time, the control member 31a is biased to turn clockwise out of initial position by spring 33, but such clockwise movement is prevented by the abutment of shoulder 36 against the inner end 31 of hook 29. At the beginning of this first period, the control member 31a biases hook 29 to turn counterclockwise, but this is prevented by the stop 29a.

During this first period, the web W is pulled, thus turning drum 2 and its connected parts, including cam 26, and also turning the pressure-roll 47.. There is sufficient frictional grip between web W, drum 2 and pressure-roll 47, so that web W has no slip relative to drum 2.

At the end of this first period, the toe of cam 26 abuts the toe of control member 31a, but said control member 31a is in its initial position of Fig. 1, so that hook 29 is still in its non-latching position of Fig. l.

The angle of this first stroke can be selected by angularly adjusting cam 26 relative to drum 2, thus selecting the initial angle between the toes of control member 3111 and cam 26.

Also, the forward planar face of the nose or toe of cam 26' can be provided with the conventional adjustable extension. such as an adjustable screw, in order to regulate the angle of rotation of drum 2, during this first period. Such adjustable extension may be provided at shoulder 36, and in each of the hook-ends 3'1 and 32, such as: an

adjustable extension screw.

Second period During the second period, the drum 2 is turned through a second movement or stroke.

During this second period, the web W is additionally downwardly pulled to turn drum 2, pressure-roll 47, cam 26 and arm 21.

During this second period, the toe of cam 26 first turns control member 31a counterclockwise to the position shown in Fig. 2, and the toe of cam 26 subsequently clears the toe of control member 31a. When the toe of cam 26 clears the toe of control member 31a, said control member 31a is free to turn clockwise under the force of spring 33, back to the original position of control member 31a in Fig. 1. However, the return of control member 31a to its original position is delayed by friction means or other delay means of any type.

The counterclockwise release movement of control member 31a releases the hook 29, so that hook 29 turns clockwise to the potential latching position of Fig. 2. ThehOok 29 is biased to turn clockwise by gravity or by a biasing spring.

The cam 26 has a smooth cylindrical periphery, save for its nose. When hook 29 is thus released, its outer end 32 abuts the cylindrical periphery of cam 26. The end 32 of hook 29 is thus located in the path of movement of the nose of cam 26, anterior the position of the nose of cam 26 in Fig. 2.

Third period The pull on web W and the simultaneous actuation of drum 2 and the parts connected therewith are continued in a third movement or stroke of drum 2, until the selected towel length is below the bottom wall 3 of the cabinet C.

During this third period, the hook 29 remains in its locking position of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, because the return of control member 31a towards its position of Fig. 1 is delayed, so that control member 31a does not turn hook 29 counterclockwise out of latching position.

At the endof this third period, and as shown in Fig. 3, the end 32 of hook 29 is anterior the catch or nose of cam 26 and abuts the front end of said catch, thus temporarily providing a positive mechanical lock which prevents any further outward movement of the web W. When drum 2 is thus temporarily locked, the selected towel length of web W is below the bottom wall 3 of cabinet C. The drum 2 may be turned through an angle of 180 degrees, before it is locked.

This third period and the selected towel length can be regulated by selecting the length of hook 29, or by selecting the thickness of outer end 32, thus regulating the selected towel length.

During the first, second and third periods, the spring 24 is extended and its tension is increased, until the hook end 23 of arm 21 is initially and temporarily shifted to dead center. Hence, until the hook end 23 is temporarily shifted to dead center, the web W is pulled to turn drum 2, against the increasing tension of spring 24. After said hook-end 23 of arm 21 passes beyond dead center, the spring 24 urges drum 2 to turn forwardly clockwise. In Fig. 3, which shows the parts at the end of the third period, the hook end 23 is beyond dead center, and spring 24 urges or biases the drum 2 to turn forwardly or clockwise.

At the end of the third period, the outer end of web W is severed by the user at the edge 8, thus temporarily releasing the drum Zfrom the pull of web W. When the web W is thus severed, its free end drops by gravity to point 9.

Fourth period The web W is not pulled during this fourth period.

During the fourth stroke of drum 2 during this fourth period, the turnable member 31a turns hook 29 counterclockwise or reversely, until the outer hook end 32 is '6 released from the catch or nose of cam 26, and said turnable member 31a finally restores hook 29 to its original position of Fig. l, and member 31a is moved back to its original position of Fig. 1.

As soon as said outer hook-end 32 of hook 27 clears the catch or nose of cam 26, the spring 24 operates to turn drum 2 in a supplemental, spring-operated feeding movement back to its initial position, thus turning drum 2 through the remainder of an angle of 360 degrees in the respective cycle. This automatic, supplemental feeding movement of drum 2 advances the free end of web W from point 9 to point 4, to provide another hand-hold for the next pull.

As above noted, the action of control member 31a in returning hook 29 to its non-latching position is delayed so that the drum 2 is temporarily locked during any selected period, which may be a short period of a few seconds.

When the web is pulled, the control member 31:: is easily turned counterclockwise by the cam 26, because the biasing spring 33 exerts only a light force.

Any means may be optionally used to delay the clockwise movement of control member 31a back to its original position of Fig. 1, thus delaying the unlatching movement of hook 29.

As one example, but without limitation thereto, the delay mechanism shown in this embodiment may be used.

In this example, the gear teeth 34 of the gear-segment 31a mesh with a gear 38, which is fixed to a shaft 39,

to which a larger gear 40 is fixed.

Said gear 40 meshes with a. smaller gear 41, which is fixed to a shaft to which gear 42 is fixed. Said gear 42 is larger than gear 41.

Gear 42 meshes with a gear 43, whose shaft 45 has a larger gear 41, which meshes with a smaller gear 46, whose shaft has a suitable retarding load, such as a fan F.

The pitch diameters of the gears of this gear-train T are indicated by the respective broken lines.

As one example, the shaft of gear 46 may rotate one hundred times for each rotation of shaft 39.

These gears are mounted on a plate 37, which is detachably fixed to plate 15.

When the end 32 clears the nose of cam 26, the spring 24 very quickly restores drum 2 to its initial position of Fig. 1, thus completing the respective cycle, and feeding the web W to provide the next hand-hold.

The toe of control member 31d may optionally abut the smooth, cylindrical part of the periphery of cam 26.

All the parts can therefore be rigid mechanical parts, with the exception of the springs.

The only function of the optional ratchet wheel 19 is to prevent reverse turning of the drum 2, in combination with a pawl 48, which is pivoted at 49 to plate 15.

A blade spring 50 has a loop which is fixed by a screw 16 to plate 15.

Said blade-spring 50 has a leg 51 which abuts a fixed stud 52 of plate 15. The other leg of blade-spring 50 abuts the pawl 48 and keeps it in operative position.

In general, and irrespective of the details of the preferred embodiment, I provide a catch which is turnable with the drum 2. I also provide a latching member which has a normal non-latching position and which is shiftable to latching position in which said latching member engages a catch of drum 2, thus temporarily locking or latching drum 2.

I provide means, such as the member 31a, which are operated by the drum 2, during a selected part of a cycle, first to shift the latching member from non-latching or release position to latching position, and then to shift the latching member back to its release position.

In another broad aspect of my invention, it includes a drum or other member which is actuated by a pull on the web, said drum or other pull-member having a catch connected. thereto and movable in unison. therewith in a g asensb I 7 selected path, and obstructing means for temporarily engaging said catch in its said path anterior said catch during a selected period, after said drum has been turned or said pull-member has been. moved through a selected stroke.

Feeding a cloth web This mechanism can be used for feeding a cloth web to provide successive towel lengths.

It is well-known to provide the cabinet with a take-up roll for winding the used part of the cloth web, so that this detail is not illustrated. Also, the used part of the cloth web may be coiled in a receptacle.

In using the mechanism for controlling the feed of a cloth web, the spring 24 is omitted, so that the cloth web is moved out of the cabinet, solely by a pull on the cloth web.

As above noted, if a paper web is used, the drum 2 is turned through an angle of about 180 degrees before said drum is locked, and the spring 24 automatically turns the released drum through the remainder of a complete rotation of 360 degrees.

In using the mechanism with a cloth web, the initial position of the catch in Fig. 1 is selected so that the drum 2 is turned through an angle of substantially 360 degrees, before said drum is temporarily locked.

At the end of a selected period, the drum is released as previously described. Of course, the cloth web is not cut, so that the blade or sharp edge 8 is also omitted.

I have described a preferred embodiment of my in vention, but numerous changes, omissions, additions and substitutions can be made without departing from its scope.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for controlling the feed of a web, said mechanism having a measuring drum which is turned in a forward direction by frictional contact with said web when said web is pulled; a catch fixed to said drum and turnable in unison with said drum; a latching member which is biased to a latching position and which is movable between a normal release position and said latching position; said latching member being spaced from said catch when said latching member is in its normal release position; said latching member being located to engage the forward face of said catch when said latching member is in its latching position; movable control means adapted to be operated by said drum, said movable control means being biased to a biased normal position at the beginning of a respective rotation of said drum through an angle of 360 degrees through a respec' tive period of such complete rotation, said control means being operated by said drum out of said normal position of said control means at the end of a fraction of said period of complete rotation and during a succeeding fraction of said period of complete rotation, said control means being released by said drum at the end of said succeeding fraction to permit said control means to return to its normal position, said control means abutting said latching member and holding said latching member in its normal release position when said control means are located in the biased normal position thereof, said control means releasing said latching member at the end of said succeeding fraction.

2. Mechanism according to claim 1, which includes time-control mechanism connected to said control means to control the period in which said latching member is held in latching position by said control member.

3. Mechanism for controlling the feed of a web, said mechanism having a drum which is turnable in a selected forward direction by frictional contact with said web when said web. is pulled; a catch fixed to said drum and turnable in unison with said drum in a fixed path of movement of said catch; a pivoted latching device which has forward and rear ends and which is pivoted between its ends; a turnable control member which is turnable around a respective pivot; said control member being biased to turn rearwardly to a normal position in which said control member engages said rear end and said control member holds said latching device in a normal release position in which said forward end of said pivoted latching device is spaced from said path of movement of said catch; said latching member being biased to turn from said normal release position to a latching position in which said forward end is in the path of movement of said catch and anterior to said catch; said catch being adapted -to engage said control member to turn said control member reversely against its biasing force to cause said control member to release said latching device, said catch being shaped to release said control member after said control member has been turned reversely, the released control member being operative to return said latching member from its latching position to its release position.

4. Mechanism for controlling the' feed of a web, said mechanism having a pull-actuated member which is moved in successive strokes by successive pulls on said web, latch means which are operated by said pull-actuated member, said latch-means being biased out of normal release position to a latching position in which said latchmeans engage said pull-actuated member during a stop period which is intermediate the beginning and end of each of said strokes; a movable control member which is biased to an initial position to abut and hold said latch-means in the normal release position of said latchmeans at the beginning of each said stroke, said control member being operated by said pull member out of said initial position to release said latch-means at the end of a selected time from the beginning of each stroke and to release said control member at the end of said stop period to permit said control member to move reversely to its initial position in order to release said latch-means.-

5. Mechanism according to claim 1, in which said parts thereof are mounted on a single mount.

6. Mechanism according to claim 2, in which said parts thereof are mounted on a single mount.

7. Mechanism according to claim 3, in which said parts thereof are mounted on a single mount.

8. Mechanism according to claim 4, in which said parts thereof are mounted on a single mount.

9. A cabinet which has an upstanding wall, a mount fixed to said wall, a measuring drum which is turnable in a clockwise direction around a respective horizontal axis, a pressure-roll which is turnable around a respective horizontal axis, said pressure-roll being associated with said drum to frictionally press a web of paper between said drum and pressure roll, said drum being fixed to a pivot pin which is connected to and turnable in said mount, said pivot pin having an extension which extends horizontally beyond said mount, a cam fixed to said extension, said cam having a periphery which has a cylindrical part and a radially offset nose, said cylindrical part being concentric with the axis of rotation of said drum, a turnable control member which has a horizontal pivot pin which is connected to said mount, said turnable control member being biased to turn in a clockwise direction, said turnable member having a toe which is in the path of rotary movement of said nose, said nose being shaped and adapted to abut said toe to turn said control member counterclockwise from a normal position of said control member and then to release said control member, a pivoted latching hook which is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said drum, said hook being pivoted to said mount intermediate the inner and outer ends of said hook, said control member engaging said inner end in the normal position of said hook and biasing said hook to turn counterclockwise to a normal non-latching position of said hook, said hook being biased to turn clockwise to a latching to engage the front face of'said offset nose and stop fun 9 10 ther rotation of said drum, said control member rethe outer end of said hook, said released control menileasing said inner end to permit said hook to turn to its her being adapted to re-engage said hook and return latching position when said control member is turned said hook to its nonlatching position. colinterclockwise m its normal position a tension References Cited in the file of this patent spring, one end of sand tenslon spring belng connected to 5 a radial arm which is fixed to said extension, said ten- UNITED STATES PATENTS sion spring having a normal position in which it is alined 2,248,193 Pric et 1 July 8, 1941 radially with said radial arm, said inner end being be- 2,391,471 Morris Dec. 25, 1945 yond dead center when said oflset nose of said cam abuts 2,5 00,094 Price Mar. 7, 1950 

